I haven't installed any new hardware or software recently.
Posted on 12/06/2016 12:55:42 PM PST by lafroste
I have an old 2 GHz machine running Windows XP Pro. This computer has sat unused for several years in an un air conditioned/heated space. It was working fine when I turned it off for the last time. I have recently developed a need to use this machine and it has valuable data on it. However, when I turn it on all I get is an immediate and rhythmic beep. The BIOS doesn't even start it just beeps at me. What is it telling me is wrong with it? I tested the hard drives in another computer and they work. (and I recovered the data).
Physical inspection of the machine does not show anything obvious. Any help is appreciated.
That’s a little bit if keeper info thanks for the link
Unless the battery is missing (and creating an open circuit) the computer should still Post. The battery’s purpose is to maintain power to the CMOS memory which stores information necessary for starting the computer before the Operating System loads. The most obvious thing you would notice with a depleted CMOS battery is the computers time and date will reset to a default date and time.
The number and lengths of the beeps will tell you what is wrong. There are specific beep codes for a missing graphics adapter or missing memory. It sounds like you have experienced a hardware failure of some sorts.
Your best bet is to hook up your hard drive to another computer and recover your data that way rather than try to repair a 15+ year old computer.
(I do this professionally)
I also say the battery is by far the most likely culprit.
Try a new one for a cheap shot at fixing it. You recovered your data, that’s excellent. You’ll know quickly whether the batt does it, you’ll boot to “safe mode” and see if you can get by the beeps.
The last computer I bought was a used hp with WDOs 7 (which I like) for a whopping $125 CPU, kbd, mouse. I am assuming you are talking about a desktop, not a laptop, I could be mistaken. Desk machines are cheap now, everybody wants a tablet or some other whizbang. That was 3 years ago, it works fine, had to jam more memory in it. I liked XP Pro a lot, but.....it’s time. If you go to WDOs 7 or higher, don’t scrimp on memory, those machines need 8 GB or you’ll hate it.
I’d suggest removing the hard drive and then giving the PC to Goodwill or the like.
You can get a find nice older PC with Windows 7 on EBay for cheap.
XP is no longer supported as of 2014 and using it for anything online is dangerous, especially anything that involves your personal info.
If you get the current PC to start up, I recommended you install a Linux operating system in it, replacing XP. Some Linux operating systems, e.g. Lubuntu, work fantastic on older PCs.
At any rate, if you do decide to chuck the PC or give it away, be sure to remove the hard drive, since it has all your personal “stuff” on it. You can install it as a second hard drive in a new PC.
Ooops....I missed the part where you said you recovered all of your data.
works every time
Perhaps the framis has gone out of skew on tredle.
Or maybe it needs a bath.
With a loofa.
>>I have an old 2 GHz machine running Windows XP Pro.<<
Ever see “Old Yeller?”
Time to cry.
“You mentioned that you haven’t used the computer for years but that you need some important data off of it. In the worst case, you can purchase a USB drive adapter at best buy (I use this.) Then you could remove the hard drive from the old computer, connect it via usb to a newer computer and copy the data off of it.”
==
What also works great for that is a USB stick with Linux installed on it (if the PC can power up). Or, for that matter, Linux running froma live DVD. You can move, copy and delete files on the Windows drive using the Linux file manager.
Sounds like your beeber is sounding an alarm, this is series.
Yup, it is helpful. But I copied the link from discostu’s post above.
Also. the BIOS battery may have died. And that is far more problematic. Well, at the least, more involved to remedy.
“Remove and reinstall the ram”
This is my guess as well.
As others have pointed out, your CMOS battery may be dead, but that wouldn’t prevent you from using the PC; but you would have to reset to hardware settings & the time whenever you turned it on.
5/76? Its best By Date has likely passed.
Also, some PCs have diagnostic lights that might be helpful in determining the cause. You’ll have to google your PC model for what the color of the lights may mean, if your PC has ‘em.
I haven't installed any new hardware or software recently.
"Runs on smoke. When the smoke comes out, it stops running."
This one. Emphasis on removing the old drive. I do this all the time. Pull the drive and install as a second drive in another PC.
The problem will come from the fact that your old drive is IDE and all your new computers use SATA. In that case you can go on eBay and do a search for IDE to USB adapter. Just about any of them will work. It mounts just like a USB thumb drive. Then you can drill down to your data and copy it to any other computer including a laptop. Including a Macintosh.
If you get one from China you can wait a couple of weeks or a few days. If you make sure to get a USA seller it will be exactly the same as the one from China only you will have it sooner
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